Jaroslaw Kaczynski admitted defeat and congratulated his rival. "We have failed against a wide front," he said. "I wish Donald Tusk every success and I congratulate him."

Voters across the nation of 38 million turned out yesterday in record numbers, 55 per cent, to hand a crushing rejection to Mr Kaczynski.

His Law and Justice Party was second with 32 per cent.

Yesterday's election was called two years early after Mr Kaczynski's coalition collapsed over a corruption inquiry. His twin, Lech, is Poland's president.

Their party has pursued former communists, adopted a sceptical approach to the EU and angered Russia and Germany with their fierce nationalism. Civic Platform promised a more business-friendly administration and closer ties to Europe.

Civic Platform could have a majority with its preferred partner, the moderate Polish Peasants Party, which early results showed at 9.2 per cent, giving it 36 seats.

• The Right-wing Swiss People's Party has boosted its standing as the biggest group in parliament, scooping nearly 29 per cent of the vote after an election campaign marred by accusations of racism. The SVP was predicted to gain seven seats, giving it 62 of the 200 seats in the National Council. The Social Democrats were the big losers.